glair



ml 623,577. Patent ed Apr. 25, I899.

T. A. ST. CLAIR.

REDUCING VALVE.

(Application filed. Feb. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES L, 6 03am ATTORNEYS THE Mann s PUERS ca, Pnoroumm wAsnmumN, n, c.

ilnrrnn ST TES PATENT @rrrcn,

THEODORE A. ST. CLAIR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES BERNARD WILSON, OF SAME PLACE.

REDUCINGVALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 623,577, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed February 15,1898. Serial No. 670,368. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, THEODORE A. ST. CLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of Philadelphia,State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reducing-Valves, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

My invention consists of areduction-valve in which provision is made for automatically maintaining a uniform pressure of air in a tank or chamber, which is primarily supplied from a source under high pressure, and preventing frosting, the novel features of the invention being hereinafter described, and

pointed out in the claims that follow the specification.

The figure represents a partial vertical section and a partial side elevation of a reducing-valve embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a cylinder the bore of which receives the stem B of the valve O,-the seat D of which is form ed in the present casein the head E, whereby as said seat is subjected to the action of the passing air or fluid under high pressure and liable to wear out rapidly said head may be removed and another one with a proper seat therein applied in lieu thereof. In the end of the cylinder opposite to the valve 0 is the chamber F, the same containing the piston G, which is connected with the valve-stem B.

In the wall of the cylinder A is the port or valve-passage H, the same leading from the M, a portion of the same is of the form of a same, the heating in the present case being accomplishechb electriiiil means, such as the conductor P, to which, however, I do not limit myself.

Q designates a cylinder which is cast or otherwise connected with the cylinder A, said cylinder Q containing the valve R and the spring S for controlling the latter.

In order to adjust the tension of the spring S, and thus adjust the valve R to apredetermined pressure, I employ the screw T, which is fitted in the end of the cylinder Q and engages with the head U within said cylinder Q, said head bearing against said spring S.

V designates a port which is formed in thecylinder A back of the piston G and forming a communication between the chamber F and the chamber'W', said chamber F, as has been stated, being in the cylinder A to contain the piston G and the chamber W being in the cylinder Q to contain the valve R, it being noticed that the valve 0 is of less area than the piston G. p

In the cylinder Q is the port X for the escape of air, the same leading from the chamber W to theatmosphere,it being noticed that the valve R is formed of a bridge Y, whereby the ports V and X will be in communication around said valve R.

Z designates a pipe which leads from the chamber K to the end of the cylinder Q adja-.

cent to the valve R, so as to direct airfrom said chamber to the said valve R.

The operation is as follows: Air under high pressure is directed by the pipe M to the valve 0, and exerting itself thereagainst opens the same, whereby the port II is uncovered. The air then enters the pipe Jand chamber K, and is directed from the latterthrough the pipe L to the engine or other place of service. Air is also directed from the chamber K through the pipe Z and exerts itself upon the valve R, the spring S bearing against the latter, which is tensioned to the desired pressure to be maintained in the chamber K; The movement of the valve R opens the port V and permits'the air to enter the chamber F and exert itself upon the piston G, which, havinga much greater area than that of the valve 0, a low pressure exerted there will over-balance a higher pressure on said valve 0, and thus the latter will be closed and remain so until the pressure in the chamber Khas been reduced. The valve R is then relieved and returns to its normal position, placing the chamber W and ports V and X in communication, so that the air in said chamber escapes through the port V around the bridge Y and through the port X to the atmosphere. This relieves the piston G, whereby theinitial high pressure is again effective to open the valve C and permit a fresh volume to enter the chamber K, it being noticed that as the chamber F is in communication with the atmosphere the aircushion back of the piston is destroyed. The air in its passage through the coil N is heated to such degree as to prevent frosting upon being expanded when passing through the valve G into the chamber K, the air being again heated in the latter.

In order to prevent the piston G covering or passing beyond the port V, I employ the lugs V, which are attached to the cylinderhead A and are of such length as to accomplish said object.

The heads A and Q of the cylinders A and Q are made, respectively, separate, so that one may be removed without disturbing the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a red ucin g-valve, an air-supplying pipe, a primary valve connected therewith, a secondary valve, a storage-chamber to which said primary valve is attached, a pipe connected with said storage-chamber and the secondary valve, and a piston on the stem of the primary valve havingits chamber in communication with the chamber of the secondary valve, the cylinder containing said primary valve also containing said chamber for said piston, the air-supply pipe being connected with the seat of the primary valve, a valve-passage leading from one end from said seat to a pipe which is connected with said cylinder storage-chamber, said seat being formed in a head which is removably connected with said cylinder at the termination of the other end of said passage and is also connected with said cylinder. I

2. An air-supply pipe, an air-storage chamber,a pri mary valve in the cylinder with which said pipe is connected at the inlet end of the passage for said valve, a pipe leading from the outlet end of said passage to said storagechamber, a piston connected with the stem of said valve, and a secondary valve in the other cylinder, the chambers of said piston and secondary valve being in comm unication with each other and thczatmosphere, in combination with means for heating said storagechamber, the air supplying pipe passing through said chamber, said primary valve being interposed between said air-supply pipe and said storagechamber, whereby air is heated prior to its entrance into said valve and afterward directed into the storage-chamber, wherein it is reheated prior to discharge from the latter.

In a red ucin g-valve, an air-storage chamber, an air-supply pipe, a valve at the outlet end of said pipe, an air-conveying pipe leading from said valve to said storage-chamber, and means for heating the latter, said air-supply pipe passing through said ehamber,whereby it is simultaneouslyheated with said storage-chamber.

4. In a redueing-valve,two cylinders orbodies in communication, a primary valve in one cylinder, a secondary valve in the other cylinder, a piston on the stem of the primary valve, an air-storage chamber with which the primary valve is in communication, a supplypipe leading from the high-pressure source to the primary valve, a pipe connecting the passage for said valve with said storage-chamber, a pipe leading from said storage-chamber to the secondary valve, the chambers of the piston and secondary Valve beingin communication and means for heating said chamber, the air-supply pipe passing through said chamber, so that the air is heated both prior to its eduction from said supply-pipe and when it is returned into said chamber.

5. A reducing-valve provided with an airstorage chamber, means for heating the latter, a pipe leading from an air-supply and passing through said chamber, a valve-passage adjacent to the outlet end of said pipe, and a pipe leading from said valve to said chamber, whereby air is heated in its passage through said chamber, then directed to said valve and returned to said chamber wherein it is again heated prior to being conveyed away for service.

6. A primary valve, a piston on the stem of said valve, the body containing said valve and piston having a passage for said valve and a chamber for said piston, a secondary valve, a body having a chamber for said secondary valve, the two chambers named being in communicat'ion with each other and the atmosphere, an air-storage chamber, an air-supply pipe connected with the seat of the primary valve, a pipe connected with the discharge end of the passage for the primary valve and with said storage-chamber, and means for heating the latter, the air-supply pipe passing through said chamber, thus primarily heating the air which after leaving the primary valve is afterward returned into said chamber and reheated.

7. In a reducing-valve, primary and secondary valves, in combination with an airsupplying pipe connected with said primary valve, an air-storage chamber, a pipe intermediate of said valve and chamber, and a pipe intermediate of said chamber and secondary valve, said air-supply pipe passing through said chamber, and means for simuL taneously heating saicl air-supplying valve the air is continuously subjected to heat, both and chamber. I prior and subsequent to its entrance into said 8. Inareduoing-valvganair-storagechainchamber. ber, means for heating the latter, an air-sup THEODORE A. ST. CLAIR. 5 ply pipe and avalveintermediate of said pipe Witnesses:

and chamber, said pipe passing through said JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, chamber in advance of said valve, whereby WM. 0. WIEDERSHEIM. 

